Land Conservancy of West Michigan agrees to new price for Saugatuck Dune area

Courtesy the Nature ConservancyThe Land Conservancy approved a new purchase price for part of the Saugatuck Dunes.

The Land Conservancy of West Michigan's board of directors voted to lower its purchase price for the 171-acre Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area, adjacent to Saugatuck’s Oval Beach City Park, by $1 million in an effort to make the land public.

The board voted to accept a newly negotiated price of $19 million to purchase the property from owner Aubrey McClendon. The LCWM board approved a purchase agreement earlier this year for $20 million, contingent on a $12.6 million grant award from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund.

While the Trust Fund Board awarded the project more funding than any other grant request this year, the final award of $10.5 million fell short of the $12.6 million request, thereby negating the purchase agreement, leaving a $2.1 million funding gap, LCWM reported.

This amended agreement approved by the LCWM board means the group will move forward in purchasing the property for $19 million. The total cost of the project will likely be $22.1 million when associated costs are considered, and at least $4.5 million will still need to be raised.

Closing on the property is expected to occur by Dec. 31.

“Our board took a courageous step forward tonight,” LCWM Executive Director Peter Homeyer said in the group's announcement. “We’re heartened in doing so because of the generosity from a number of key individuals who pledged their support to this project this week, including John A. Woollam, and Liz and Todd Warnock. Their commitment, coupled with the new purchase price, was crucial at this juncture in helping us bridge the funding gap.”

Homeyer said LCWM depends on private donations for conservation projects like this and that a formal fundraising campaign will be announced at the closing of the property.

“We are so thankful to the people who came forward this week to commit to the project,” Helen Taylor, Nature Conservancy state director for Michigan, said in the prepared statement. “They stand on the shoulders of those who have led the way with the core leadership commitments that have enabled the project to even get to this stage, including The Frey Foundation, Fred and Lena Meijer, James W. Brooks and the Brooks family of Holland, the J. A. Woollam Foundation, and an anonymous donor. Thanks to them, the Trust Fund and State Sen. Patty Birkholz, we can see the finish line.”

The West Michigan Strategic Alliance named the property as one of the most critical natural assets needing permanent protection.